What Hiring Managers Really Want To Know When They Ask, ‘What Are Your Hobbies?’

When you're in the hot seat interviewing for a job, you're
answering questions such as "What's your greatest weakness?" and "Why
should we hire you?" — so a query like "What are your hobbies?"
will probably seem like a piece of cake.

But before you start babbling about your lifelong obsession with
horses or your newfound passion for baking, consider this: The
hiring manager wants to get a better sense of who you are, so
it's important to think about which hobbies best showcase your
strengths, passions, and skills — and then only discuss those in
the interview.

"The employer is trying to determine whether you'd be a good fit,
and getting insight into your interests, hobbies, and personality
all help in evaluating that," says Amy Hoover, president of the
job board TalentZoo.

For example, if you like to paint in your spare time, and you're
interviewing for an account executive position with an
advertising agency, your creative flair might be viewed as an
asset when working with your creative counterparts, Taylor
explains.

Or, if you're involved in orchestrating community events,
where organizational skills are critical, that would translate
well into a promotional or event-planning type of position.

"That said, they are also looking for well-rounded individuals,
so you don't want to limit your pursuits to only those that
relate directly to your career," Taylor says.

While there are no wrong answers per se, there are some smart
choices you can make when answering this question in an
interview, Hoover explains.

Here's what interviewers are really looking for when
they ask about your hobbies:

1. That you're team-oriented.

"Since most jobs involve a certain level of group interaction and
support — and cross functional work teams continue to thrive —
any kind of activity that you do in your spare time that
demonstrates your ability to be a team player, such as playing a
team sport or working with a group on a volunteer
project, would be well perceived by your prospective boss,"
Taylor says.

2. That you possess strong leadership skills.

"If you lead a group in a leisure activity, such as anything from
a book or hiking club to a charitable effort or community
activity, that speaks well to your ability to lead on the job,"
Taylor explains. Not all jobs require leadership or management
talent, but those kinds of activities project the desire to make
a difference.

3. That you actively work on honing your skills.

If you stay with a particular leisure pursuit, and try to better
yourself — which could relate to anything from artistic or
musical talents, to bettering your communications, writing, or
research skills — you will likely be viewed as having
perseverance. "And that would certainly be viewed as a plus
in the position at hand," says Taylor.

4. That you're well-rounded.

Hiring managers like to know that you have an array of interests
and are not just focused on the type of work you do 24/7. "It's
assumed that if you engage in a diverse assortment of hobbies,
you may be better equipped to manage a broader array of
experiences and people on the job," Taylor says. However, be
careful not to list out too many hobbies. This can imply
that you're indecisive, you don't commit adequate time to each
hobby, and you're stretched too thin.

5. That you're able to set and stick to
goals.

Hiring managers like to see applicants who set goals in their
leisure pursuits. "For example, they want to see that you enjoy
completing a project and have the desire to reach certain
milestones in your leisure activities," says Taylor.
"Goal-setting is essential in any job, as managers like to see
that you have a sense of purpose and determination to reach goals
that you've mutually established."

So, if you're training for a 5K run or taking a class in an area
that you wish to excel, this is the time to talk about it.

6. That you're passionate.

If you're excited about your leisure pursuits, it can show a side
of you that interviewers typically appreciate and value. "You're
demonstrating that you are capable of enjoying what you do and
being passionate about it, whether inside or outside of the
office," Taylor says.

7. That you're not too passionate.

"If you talk about how passionate you are about a particular
hobby to the point where it sounds as if you want to make that
your primary career, that may send up a red flag," Taylor
explains. For example, if you're interviewing for a sales
position at a software company, it's fine to mention your
interest in fashion. "But if you wax on about how invigorating it
is to keep up on fashion trends and pursue fashion-related
activities on the weekends, you could do yourself a disservice at
the job interview," she says. "It might be perceived that you
would be happier in that industry."

8. That you won't be distracted at work.

You may have a few entrepreneurial interests on the side. "Even
if you claim that such endeavors have nothing to do with the job
at hand, you are still raising a red flag," Taylor says. "No
interviewer wants to feel as if you're just trying to gain a
salary or work experience until you're ready to launch your own
business."

9. That you do, in fact, have interests outside of
work.

Here's a terrible response to this question: "I have no real
specific outside interests. I'm just too busy."

This tells the employer that you're a workaholic (which isn't a good thing!) and
that you don't take time outside of work to refuel and recharge
by doing the things you enjoy.

"Overall, the best policy is to bring up leisure pursuits that
speak to your team orientation, good people skills, tenacity, and
thirst for knowledge in the areas in which you are passionate,"
Taylor says.

Also, try not to emphasize hobbies that can be construed as
vices, such as wine tastings, craft beer making, or cigar clubs,
says Hoover. "And finally, please do not say 'Facebook' or
'social media.' Those aren't hobbies; they're distractions —
especially at work."